AMT Masterpieces CustomShop, and ProShop

[THarrison351]

moderators, if this is in the wrong forum, please place it in the appropriate one. Thanks!

At the end of the last century, AMT marketed two interesting models, pre-painted but unassembled 1958 Edsel Citation in Black and Red and a custom 1932 Phantom Vickie in Purple for their CustomShop series. Unlike pre-painted models from the domestic manufacturers released back in the seventies, these models had all of their parts painted. The next year (2000), AMT released eleven more different kits. Four were in the CustomShop series, but a new line was introduced called the ProShop series. Seven were in the new package and a couple of those were that year's CustomShop cars painted in new colors, but one was exclusive to Walmart's checkerboard box pattern, the Dodge Viper RT-10. The next year, all the new ProShop pre-painted releases would be in exclusive Walmart checkerboard packages. From 2001 until the last release, a 1953 Ford Flipnose truck, AMT would create thirty-one more pre-painted kits for Walmart only. They would also build eight assembled kits, but that's covered a little further down. The models include in no certain order or date, the aforementioned 1932 Ford Phantom Vickie, 1958 Edsel Pacer in kit form and the assembled version in aqua and white.1962 Pontiac Catalina Custom in three kit colors, frosted panel red, dark red, or frosted panel green. The Catalina super stock also came assembled in red. 1966 Buick Riviera Lowrider in three kit colors panel green, panel yellow, or panel blue. The stock Riviera GS also came assembled in silver. 1941 Ford Woody wagon in metallic blue or yellow. the 1957 Chrysler 300C came in two kit colors, black or metallic green. The 300C also came assembled in black.1937 Chevy Cabriolet came in beige and maroon. 1967 Chevy Impala SS Custom came in orange or blue. 1966 Chevy Nova SS Street Machine came in yellow or blue. 1965 Pontiac GTO came in gold or black. Dodge Viper RT-10 came in red or primer gray. 1971 Dodge Charger R/T in kit form was painted Green Go. The Charger also came assembled in Citron Yella. 1939 Wagon Rod came in Red. 1970.5 Baldwin Motion Chevrolet Camaro in kit form was painted red and white. The Camaro also came assembled in metallic green and white, but did not have Baldwin Motion printed on the rear quarter like the kit. 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo in Purple. 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria in black and red. 1970 Chevelle SS 454 Custom in metallic gray or black with white stripes. 1964 Impala SS Lowrider in yellow or purple. 1968 Plymouth Road Runner in red. 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 painted yellow came only in a custom version. 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 in green had an to add the Six Pack induction. 1962 Ford Thunderbird in Black. 1958 Plymouth Belvedere in red or black. 1969 Hurst/Olds 442 in white and gold. 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe in black. 1957 Chevy Bel Air in Dusk Pearl Poly and Imperial Ivory. 1978 Pontiac Trans Am in white and gold. 1972 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 in yellow with black stripes. 1957 Ford Thunderbird in light blue and white. 1967 Ford Mustang GT in white with black stripes. 1969 Cougar Boss 302 Eliminator in orange. 1953 Ford Flipnose Custom truck in primer gray. For the most part these kits were based on many well engineered and relatively easy to build kits. The paint and finish was by no means contest worthy, but they will look good in a case or on a shelf.

Back in the early part of this century, Danbury Mint and Franklin Mint were creating and selling vehicles in the 1/24 scale by the literal tons. I believe AMT wanted to get in on this bandwagon and started their own type of mint car by using existing models, painting, building, and marketing them as an exclusive product. After all, the cars they put out were no being cast by the mints at the time! I believe they used the same people who were painting the CustomShop and ProShop kits to finish assembling these Masterpieces. In all total, only eight cars were created from 2000 until 2002. I don't think they ever really caught on due to some quality control issues. I do like them though.

1970.5 Baldwin Motion Chevrolet Camaro, 1971 Dodge Charger R/T, 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Convertible, 1969 Buick Riviera, 1960 Ford Starliner, 1962 Pontiac Catalina, 1957 Chrysler 300, and 1957 Edsel Pacer    
These are the nice boxes they come in:

I tried to take some pictures of the ones I have altogether. First the Masterpieces with the CustomShop or ProShop models I have. The only ones I don't have duplicates of are the 1970.5 Baldwin Motion Chevrolet Camaro, 1960 Ford Starliner, and the 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Convertible. I tried to get a Red ProShop Camaro for years, but they just got too expensive. The Impala and Starliner were never made in CustomShop or a ProShop Kit.

And here are all of them, their accessories and the unfinished one on one table.

Front row, from left to right: ProShop 1962 Ford Thunderbird, ProShop 1971 Plymouth Duster 340, Masterpiece 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Convertible, Masterpiece 1960 Ford Starliner, Masterpiece 1969 Buick Riviera, Masterpiece 1957 Edsel Pacer, Masterpiece 1962 Pontiac Catalina, Masterpiece 1971 Dodge Charger R/T, Masterpiece 1957 Chrysler 300, Masterpiece 1970.5 Baldwin Motion Chevrolet Camaro, ProShop 1969 Mercury Cougar Boss 302 Eliminator, ProShop 1958 Plymouth Belvedere, and ProShop 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria.

Second row, from left to right: ProShop 1957 Ford Thunderbird, ProShop 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 Six Pack, CustomShop 1941 Ford Woody, ProShop 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, CustomShop 1969 Buick Riviera Lowrider, CustomShop 1958 Edsel Pacer, CustomShop 1962 Pontiac Catalina #8 stock car, ProShop 1971 Dodge Charger R/T, CustomShop 1957 Chrysler 300, ProShop 1955 Chevrolet Nomad, ProShop 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Hurst/Olds, ProShop 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, and ProShop 1965 Ford Mustang.

Last row, from left to right: ProShop 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom 409 Engine, CustomShop 1969 Buick Riviera Lowrider Custom Bicycle, Unfinished ProShop 1937 Chevrolet Cabriolet, and ProShop 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427.

I've managed to build eighteen of them and still need to finish one. All totaled as best as I can tell, it appears there were fifty-three of these models made in assembled or kit form.

If you want to see more pictures, check my Fotki link

[Gramps46]

Very impressive Tim and quite an accomplishment.  Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

[PappyD340]

Nice collection!

[doorsovdoon]

Stunning collection, and a nice bit of history there! I would love to have known about these back then but all the model shops here had closed or relocated even by the late 90's.

[slusher]

Beautiful collection , Tim.I have several myself!

[cobraman]

Great collection and very good information.

[ewetwo]

Wonderful Collection. I love the Pro Shop kits. And the Masterpiece cars are just as nice. I have but not as many as you do. I've never seen the 1060 ford as a kit. Only built. 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by ewetwo

[Snake45]

Tim, the yellow Pro Shop '71 Duster--did that come with stock parts or just as the "street machine" version? I bought one of these built at the last toy show and it's got some kind of non-stock engine, and it's wearing some nice drag wheels and slicks that I suspect it didn't come with. (It's also got purple tinted headlights, but I see yours are clear so I assume the builder did that.)

I have the green Pro Shop Duster kit unbuilt, so I know what's in that one. (Bought one of those nicely built at the toy show, too.)

At today's toy show, the guy had the yellow Masterpiece '71 Charger--no box, just on the table with his other builtups and glue bombs. Not a huge fan of the car and the color didn't really grab me so I left it there. Now I'm kinda wishing I'd bought it. Oh well, maybe he'll still have it next month. I didn't even ask price but doubt it was over $20, and could have probably gotten it for $15. 

[ewetwo]

NIce. I have a few of those myself.